Poll: What sleeping position/mask/pillow works for you?

OntarioKevin · Post by **OntarioKevin** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 11:23 am

I began to sleep on my stomach/hip several years ago, presumably when I started having apnea but before it was diagnosed (and way before I ever heard of CPAP).

Now that I'm using CPAP, I'm still sleeping the same way, but of course it's hard to sleep on your stomach/hip with a big piece of plastic protruding from your face.

Wondering what position/mask/pillow combo most people have found works for them?

KimberlyM · Post by **KimberlyM** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 11:42 am

I am using the Swift LT nasal pillows and a Suprima Tempur Pedic pillow. Very comfortable!

jmelby · Post by **jmelby** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 11:46 am

I tried all sorts of different pillows... Tempurpedic, PapPillow, foam, and ultimately came back to a standard pillow not really understanding why I thought I needed a special pillow in the first place.

Amigo · Post by **Amigo** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 12:15 pm

Since your poll did not include nasal pillows, I assume you are not interested in capturing that data.

OntarioKevin · Post by **OntarioKevin** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 12:19 pm

sorry - I thought "nasal mask" was the same as "nasal pillows"!

The polling feature only allows 10 choices - I'll change it to include nasal pillows.

Sorry - no experience with the nasal options

AmyD · Post by **AmyD** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 12:21 pm

I have been sleeping in all positions with my mask. On my back, on both sides, on my stomach. I haven't found the mask intereferes at all.

Still using my regular memory foam pillow, too.

OntarioKevin · Post by **OntarioKevin** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 12:22 pm

There, Amigo.

Changed to include nasal pillows in addition to masks.

Sorry I couldn't break it out further - did my best with 10 choices!

jbn3boys · Post by **jbn3boys** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 12:50 pm

OntarioKevin wrote:sorry - I thought "nasal mask" was the same as "nasal pillows"!

The polling feature only allows 10 choices - I'll change it to include nasal pillows.

Sorry - no experience with the nasal options

No need to apologize. Just to clarify for yo what the difference is, I think of a nasal mask as a "little" full face mask. Many are shaped similarly, but only cover the nose, not the nose and mouth. Nasal pillows are just under the nose, often with a small part that seals along the bottom/outside of each nostril (often called nares on this board).

Then there is also a small category of hybrid masks. These cover the mouth, but then have a type of nasal pillow attached. This kind of achieves a full face mask without having to have anything touching the bridge of your nose.

Hawthorne · Post by **Hawthorne** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 2:38 pm

I sleep on my back but I don't use a regular pillow or a special cpap pillow. I use a contour foam pillow because it tilts my chin up/forward and helps keep my airway open because of the way it fits under my neck. I couldn't vote regular pillow or cpap pillow.

Jaylee · Post by **Jaylee** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 8:41 pm

Right side, full fask mask, regular pillow.

jlk · Post by **jlk** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 11:53 pm

All of the above positions, back, side, belly, in that order of preference, most to least time spent there. Nasal pillows. Regular bed pillow. On a really good night, low ahi, I spend most of the time on my back. john

Amigo · Post by **Amigo** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 5:59 am

OntarioKevin wrote:There, Amigo.

Changed to include nasal pillows in addition to masks.

Sorry I couldn't break it out further - did my best with 10 choices!

No problem, and thanks. I've added my choice to the poll.

Vladesch · Post by **Vladesch** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 7:28 am

Sleeping on your side/front works with a normal pillow if you bunch the pillow up towards your shoulder/behind you ear. That way your face protrudes off the edge of the pillow and the mask isn't in the way of anything.

LSAT · Post by **LSAT** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 10:27 am

I found it interesting that 77% sleep on a normal pillow. With all the talk of special pillows, I thought it would be less than that. I personally use a normal foam pillow.

OntarioKevin · Post by **OntarioKevin** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 5:38 pm

So - a couple of fascinating things about this.

1) Most use a normal pillow. Given that most people on this board seem to have branched far beyond what's covered by their insurance or government, I'd have to conclude that many of you have tried a CPAP pillow and just decided that a normal pillow was fine.

2) Most use nasal mask or pillows. I've recent been told that I have no nasal polyps, just "vasomotor rhinitis", which I think is one of those things they tell you when they can't figure it out. Net-net - I may be able to use a nasal mask or pillows after all, although maybe with a chin strap.

3) Most sleep on their sides. I have a real question about this - my shoulder ALWAYS hurts after about an hour sleeping on my side. Where are you putting your arms and hands to enable sleeping on the side without it hurting? I've tried multiple pillows so that some of the weight of my head is off my shoulders, but I haven't gotten that straight yet.

It always feels weird to actually ask advice on how to sleep - sure didn't need help figuring it out when I was a kid.

But that's what this board is for!

Poll: What sleeping position/mask/pillow works for you?

What sleeping position/mask/pillow works for you?

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Re: Poll: What sleeping position/mask/pillow works for you?